I had a bit of trouble with SJ getting a B+ considering they had no acquisitions at all. He sites Kane of course, but I think Kane playing the stretch drive, with a new team, in a contract year, is a very different animal than Kane with a nice new, fat multi-year contract.

But we shall see.

He says that Lehtonen is a UFA fit. I wouldn't let him hold Rittich's water bottle, let alone take over the back-up position.

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Looks like I disagree with most of you, I think we need to go out and get a another goalie with experience. We are poised for a run and I donít want to have to rely on 2 inexperienced younger guys. Smithís injury history has me a little nervous a guy like Mason mentioned earlier would go a long way to solidify the position.

I would prefer one of the young guys to break out but I donít want to bank the season on Smiths health or the young guys taking a huge step.

How is one of the young guys going to break out when they are (a) not playing in the NHL and (b) splitting time in the AHL (with Parsons being held up in the ECHL as well)? They are 24-25 years old.

Goalies supposedly take longer, yeah, but eventually they need their shot.

I’m a little shocked at how wish on a star attitude so many seem to be taking about the goaltending situation especially based on results over the last few years. We haven’t had steady goaltending since kipper in my opinion and it has derailed more than just last years season.

I’m a little shocked at how wish on a star attitude so many seem to be taking about the goaltending situation especially based on results over the last few years. We haven’t had steady goaltending since kipper in my opinion and it has derailed more than just last years season.

Well, in the first place I would say that the Flames had steady goaltending last year. Smith and Rittich were both great for the better part of the season. But I would say that I saw enough from both of them to feel confident that with a better balance in their workload, and with a better showing for Smith at the Saddledome the Flames will be just fine. Rittich was a rookie who acquitted himself very well, and I think would benefit from an increase in his starts this year. Smith looked perfectly capable fo playing a 60-game season.

Iím a little shocked at how wish on a star attitude so many seem to be taking about the goaltending situation especially based on results over the last few years. We havenít had steady goaltending since kipper in my opinion and it has derailed more than just last years season.

True but UFA signings and trades haven't really worked out so well. Maybe time to go with the goalies in the organization?

Due to the, what feels like, unanimous skepticism for Kane, I actually want him to succeed, of course not over the Flames though. So maybe a great season, but losing to the Flames in the conference finals would be good.

I agree with him except about Calgary's backups. Even there, I agree it's a concern, but I disagree that Calgary should be looking for backup help now. Calgary needs to find out what they have with a bigger NHL sample from Gillies or Rittich. The experienced backup thing with Lack was a failure and resulted in Smith playing too much. I think Rittich showed he can play a solid backup role (sure he couldn't handle emergency number one when Smith went down but he was perfectly fine as a backup).

Rittich was great when he wasn't penned as THE guy.

I think when Smith went down, there was some between the ears pressures that took Rittich off his game which was largely solid prior to switching seats. When you're a young guy that's not unheard of, and dropping the ball as a starter in the first season on an NHL roster probably shouldn't erase what he showed in a capacity of a backup. I'd say very few goalies are ready for that in year one. Don't know why Rittich should be chased out of town when he gave the Flames the best group of performances from a backup in years and years.

The Oilers have some hugely talented prospects in the pipeline. Mind you, they're 16 and 17 years old and we don't know who they are yet, but an Oiler draft pick is most valuable before they try to pick a player with it.

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Due to the, what feels like, unanimous skepticism for Kane, I actually want him to succeed, of course not over the Flames though. So maybe a great season, but losing to the Flames in the conference finals would be good.

I actually think he will have one good season with them, while there is still a bit of a new car smell. But regression to the norm seems inevitable, even if it takes a little while.

All this talk of acquiring a veteran backup, but let's look at the list of available free agents, shall we?

I'll start by actually entertaining this idea and suggest that Kari Lehtonen wouldn't be the worst choice ever. He put up a .911 Sv% and a 2.58 GAA in Dallas last year. He can also play more games than the average backup as he played in 36 last year and is a former starter. But is Kari Lehtonen really the long term answer in net for Calgary? I'll let you guys decide, but I'd sooner give the time to young goalies that still have potential over a 34 year old washed up starter.

Here's the rest of the list, but I have to warn you, buyer beware. This is no longer a group of gently used cars that could be serviceable for a few years. This is a list of lemons that were made in countries that no longer exist. I would strongly urge to stick with the guys we have.

Nah, Rittich showed last year that he was better than a replacement level goaltender as the back up, and Gillies was no slouch either, although he did have some rough moments here and there.

People forget this, but before Smith went down to injury, Rittich had 7 starts. His lowest save percentage in any of those games was .919, and he was regularly hovering around .940. He played exceptionally well as the backup, but struggled as the de facto starter. Not surprising for a rookie NHL goaltender.

Rittich is my man unless someone steals the job from him.

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If we can't fall in love with replaceable bottom 6 players then the terrorists have won.

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Nah, Rittich showed last year that he was better than a replacement level goaltender as the back up, and Gillies was no slouch either, although he did have some rough moments here and there.

People forget this, but before Smith went down to injury, Rittich had 7 starts. His lowest save percentage in any of those games was .919, and he was regularly hovering around .940. He played exceptionally well as the backup, but struggled as the de facto starter. Not surprising for a rookie NHL goaltender.

Rittich is my man unless someone steals the job from him.

Internal options are better than what's left, and you get the investment in potentially finding a tandem option for next season.